Written by, Terrell T. Himmelheber2
Copyright © 11-10-20013
Adapted from an original teleplay for the “Star Trek: Enterprise” T.V. series.4
TEASER5
--The NX-01 Enterprise is cruising through space at a leisurely warp 2.7, about6
half her maximum speed....7
--On the Bridge, it’s “business as usual”. (Normal Enterprise, get it?) All the8
Bridge “Principles” (If you don’t know them by now, you soon will.) are manning their9
prospective, respective stations, except for the “loosely” Commanding Officer, (He10
fancies himself more an explorer than a military man.) Captain Jonathan Archer. He is11
standing behind the beautiful, but cold T’Pol. with his hands joined behind his back,12
smiling. He is ogling, and leering at the butt of the unsuspecting Vulcan, as she is bent13
over in front of him, peering into her sensor-scope...14
The nervously anxious Helmsman, Ensign Travis Mayweather, the Afro-American “Space Boomer”, (Born and raised in space on his parents freighter.) is tapping his fingers on the Navigational panel, when he finally can’t contain himself any longer. He shakes his head, turns toward Archer, and says,15
“Captain? Are you sure you don’t want me to increase our speed to . . . (he thinks) at least warp three? 16
Archer is rocking back and forth on his heels and toes (not taking his eyes off T’Pol’s rear end,) day-dreaming. He says,17
“No, no . . . I want to take full advantage of this rare opportunity! . . . “ . . . 18
The light from the sensor-scope shines on T’Pol’s face in a rectangular shape, and ‘we’ can ‘see’ past her (continuously) as the gawking Archer continues saying,19
“. . . I mean , it’s not every day we come across a region of space that even the Vulcans haven’t charted, and are ‘afraid’ to explore,” teasing T’Pol.20
Even though this annoys her, she calmly talks back toward Archer without looking away from the sensor readings, and (in a Vulcan way) sarcastically says,21
“Captain . . . may I ‘remind’ you that ‘fear’ is an ’emotion’?. . . There is a ’logical’ reason the Vulcans will not . . . ’explore’ here. . . “ But Archer interrupts her. She reminded him of his annoyance with her, and he (in a Human way) says,22
“Yeah, yeah! . . . Now we know all about the Vulcan ship that was lost out here. . .after we decided to explore it!. . . (He scowls) Thanks again, for being so ’forthcoming’!”23
Her face is unchanged. She is oblivious to his true intent, and she responds saying,24
“You are . . . welcome, Captain,” back behind her. 25
This enrages him, (There is no joy in tossing a dart of sarcasm when it misses the board, and bounces back to poke you!) and he draws his foot back in a motion ’as if’ he’s going to kick her butt, instead of admiring it! 26
At that moment T’Pol sees something on her scope, and urgently says,27
“Captain! . . . (He ‘straightens up’, suddenly, with an ’I got caught’ expression!) . . . There is a large unidentified vessel approaching on an intercept course,” without looking up from her scope. 28
Archer appears frightened, quickly turns to walk toward his chair, and out of ’view’ as he barks out orders, saying,29
“Full stop! Polarize Hull-plating! Arm all Weapon systems! Hoshi, hail them!. . . RED ALERT!” 30
The lights dim, and the Klaxon sounds as T’Pol (in a Vulcan way) smirks, and under her breath, sarcastically says, 31
“Who is afraid, now, Captain?” while intently gazing into her scope! . . .32
ACT ONE33
- - ’We’ can ’see’ the Bridge (continuous) is dimly lit. Red warning lights flash, and the Klaxon blares. As Archer is sitting in his chair, he pivots toward Hoshi Sato, the very pretty, demure Asian Communications Officer and Linguistics expert - genius, (and ’secretly’ bi-sexual) and says,34
“Any response to our hails, yet, Ensign?!”. . . 35
Hoshi is listening to her ear-piece, fearfully. She turns toward Archer, and says,36
“No sir! . . . No response!” with terror. . . .37
T’Pol is still (logically) riveted to her sensor-scope as she yells back, over the noise, saying,38
“Captain! The ship has dropped out of warp, and is stationary , one-thousand kilometers off our bow! . . . We are being scanned, sir!” . . . 39
Archer urgently says,40
“Put it up on the Main Viewscreen!”. . . 41
‘Our’ ’P.O.V.’ (Point Of View) is from behind Archer, ’O.T.S.’ (Over The Shoulder) on the blank Main Viewscreen at the front of the Bridge. The Viewscreen snaps on, revealing the strange-looking ship floating directly ahead, and aimed menacingly at them, motionless in space! . . . 42
Lieutenant Malcolm Reed, the British Tactical / Security Officer, a weapons expert / enthusiast, (“trigger-happy / bomb nut” - who is secretly gay, not that it matters.) and rigidly militaristic (“regular army”) is monitoring his tactical sensors, and says,43
“It doesn’t match anything in our database, sir! . . . (He sees something!) Oh, bloody-hell! They’re powering their weapons! Shall I? . . . “ But archer commandingly interrupts him, firmly, saying,44
“Steady, Lieutenant! . . . Hoshi, open a comm-link, activate the U.T. (universal translator), and patch it through to me, here!”45
She shyly nods yes, turns away to operate some controls, and then turns back, and says, 46
“Go ahead, sir!”47
Archer ponders a moment, then pushes the button on the arm of his chair, and says,48
“Attention, alien vessel! This is the Earth’s exploration vessel, Enterprise. . . (silence) Please respond. . . (more silence) We were just in the neighborhood, and thought we’d stop by, and say, ‘Hello‘. . . ( still silence) We mean you no harm, but we will defend ourselves!” 49
T’Pol looks up from her sensor scope, and condescendingly says,50
“Perhaps, sir, they do not wish to communicate? . . . Logic would dictate . . . “51
Archer grows frustrated, and ancrily interrupts her saying, 52
“Take your Vulcan logic, and stuff it!”. . . 53
T’Pol raises an eyebrow, but before she can turn back to her sensor scope . . .54
The alien vessel (on viewscreen) fires a glowing, growing ball of energy, and quickly turns away to accelerate off the edge of the viewscreen, out of sight. Before anyone can say “Look out!”, the ship is rocked by the impact, and the viewscreen goes blank.55
The Bridge crew are tossed around, and several panels explode, shoot sparks, and catch fire. Archer rights himself in his chair, and says,56
“Damage control! 57
Lieutenant Reed grabs a fire extinguisher off the wall, and starts putting out the fires. 58
“Helmsman, Set a pursuit course! Maximum speed!”59
Travis operates the helm controls as he says,60
“Aye, sir! . . . Warp 5.2 . . . Mark!”61
Sub Commander T’Pol, (an honorary title, as she is “on loan” and, not technically part of Starfleet), the Vulcan (that says it all!) Science Officer is peering into her scope. (T’Pol’s “Science” specialty, since “First Contact”, is her life-long study of “Humans”, and her “control group” is the Archer family. She has “surreptitiously” been watching Archer all his life. That is her secret assignment from the Vulcan “royal family”, . . . her family! Enough said?) She looks up from her scope, turns to Archer, and says,62
“Captain, I scanned several humanoid life-forms, ’superior’ weapons, and superior technology onboard their vessel! . . .Logic dictates that we not pursue them, but rather avoid a conflict, sir!”63
Archer is very angry, (and frightened) and says,64
“These people are probably responsible for the destruction of the Vulcan ship! . . . And would someone please shut that noise off!”65
Reed, back at his station nods yes, and silences the alarm.66
“Thanks, Malcolm. . . Besides, T’Pol, they fired on us without cause! I want to find out why!”67
“Perhaps, sir, they ‘thought’ they had a . . . ‘cause’? . . . We ‘invade’ their space with weapons ready, and then you threatened . . . ‘reprisals’, and ‘yelled’ at me while still on the open channel, demonstrating . . . ‘hostility’, sir . . . If I were them, and not ‘in control of my emotions’, I might do the same as they did,” T’Pol sarcastically offers.68
“Yeah? . . . (He thinks) Maybe, since they had contact with the Vulcans already, . . when I mentioned your ‘damnable Vulcan logic’ they ‘assumed’ we were Vulcans, eh?”69
“That is . . . (she thinks) ‘unlikely’, sir.”70
Hoshi is listening to her “ear-piece“, and interrupts their “banter” to say,71
“Captain! I’m picking up a . . . ‘distress call’? . . .No! They’re calling for reinforcements, sir!”72
Immediately, Travis (in front of Archer) says,73
“Sir! . . . We’re gaining on them, but they’re headed straight for a gas nebula!”74
Archer thinks a moment, then says,75
“Weapons status?”76
Lieutenant Reed checks his systems, then says,77
“Our Phase-cannons were ’disabled’ by the blast from the alien ship, sir! . . . We do have our torpedoes, though!”78
With a hint of desperation, Archer says,79
“Quickly! Target their engines, and weapons systems only , and fire!”80
- - There is a huge, multi-colored gas nebula in the far distance. Then, the alien ship can be ’seen’ between it, and the Enterprise. A string of nine (in sets of three) brilliantly glowing torpedoes shoot out from Enterprise, and race toward the ship ahead of her!81
- - ‘We’ can ‘see’ (from a closer P.O.V.) the alien ship. The nine torpedoes streak into ‘view’ (from behind ’us’), and impact with an “invisible bubble” around the ship, to harmlessly explode! They momentarily “light-up” the shields, at the points of contact, caused by power fluctuations!82
- - Back on the Enterprise Bridge, T’Pol is continuously monitoring the sensors.83
“Impact! . . . They have some form of ’energy barrier’ surrounding their vessel, sir. It absorbed the explosions, . . . No effect, . . . They are now entering the nebula, sir.”84
Archer angrily pounds his fist down on the arm of his chair once, and says,85
“Damn! . . . Travis, slow to one-quarter Impulse! . . . T’Pol, keep scanning for them! I don’t want to lose them, now!”86
T’Pol looks into her scope, and says, 87
“The nebula is blocking our sensors, sir, . . . (She looks up from the scope, and sarcastically continues.) We have ’lost’ them, Captain!”88
“Damn!” he says, with grave disappointment!89
--Later, Archer is thinking silently. Then he resignedly says,90
“Well, they only came out long enough to disable our Warp engines, and ducked back into the nebula! I don’t get it!”91
Lieutenant Reed is thinking, then he says,92
“Perhaps they’re waiting for those blasted reinforcements, sir? “93
Archer gets an idea, and says, 94
“Malcolm, program a single torpedo to ’follow’ the last known course of that ship into the nebula, and explode in the proximity of their vessel. Let’s flush them out of there.”95
Reed, knowingly, says,96
“I see, . . . just like a ’depth charge’.”97
“’Depth charge’, Lieutenant?” Archer questions.98
As he is programming the torpedo, Reed explains, reflectively, saying,99
“Aye, sir, . . . It’s the name of an old Earth naval explosive device! . . . The ’surface’ vessels would drop ’it’ into the water, set to explode at a certain depth, to disable, or drive an ’underwater’ vessel to the surface, sir.”100
T’Pol was listening, and cautioning, says,101
“I ’would’ recommend against this ’course of action’, sir. . . It ’could’ ignite the gasses in the nebula. . . We ’should’ issue a precautionary message. . . “102
Reed interrupts her by urgently saying,103
“I ’would’ recommend ’against’ that, sir! . . . They ’could’ alter their position, or come out after us! They do ’out-gun’ us! . . . Sir?”104
Archer doesn’t answer. He is deep in thought, pondering the dilemma. Then, the elevator doors open, and Commander (second in command, and Archer’s personal friend, since after the Academy) Charles “Trip” Tucker, the southern born, and raised Chief Engineer, enters the Bridge, coming up from Engineering. Archer turns, and says,105
“Well, Trip? How are those Warp engines?”106
Trip’s expression is glum as he shakes his head; walking to his station, and says,107
“The Warp engines are shot! The Impulse engines are bein’ held together with spit and duct tape, John! They won’t last!”108
T’Pol is confused (what’s new?) by his colorful metaphors, and says,109
“Mister Tucker? We knew the Warp engines were ’shot’ by the alien vessel, and it is not surprising the Impulse engines will not ’last’, with such inferior materials, and haphazard repairmanship . . . “110
Trip interrupts her, insulted, and angrily says, 111
“I’d like to see y’all do any better!”112
Hoshi snickers, understanding the “miscommunication”, and Archer smiles as he begins to understand, and says,113
“Never mind, T’Pol, . . . We know you did your best down there, Trip! . . .” 114
He stops, and thinks a while, weighing his options. Then, with new resolve, he says, 115
“Helmsman, set a reverse course back the way we came at maximum Impulse, just ’in case’ they do come out after us! . . . ”116
Travis shrugs his shoulder, and turns back to the Navigational panel as Trip and T’Pol “shoot daggers” at each other with their eyes! 117
“. . . Tactical? . . .”118
Reed nods.119
“ . . . fire!” 120
Lieutenant Reed excitedly says,121
“Aye, sir! Launching torpedo . . . mark!” and he pushes the button.122
Archer says, 123
“Helmsman?! Get us out of here, now!”124
Travis cringes as he starts the imperiled Impulse engine’s drive sequence, and says,125
“Aye, sir! . . . One-quarter, . . . half, . . . three-. . . quarter . . . Impulse” . . . and the ship begins to buffet, and rumble under the strain!126
T’Pol is peering into her scope continuously as she says, 127
“Captain; the torpedo has entered the nebula. . . . The explosion has ignited the gasses in the nebula. . . . There is a large ’shock wave’ approaching! . . . “128
Archer urgently leans forward, and says,129
“Travis? . . . Can we out-run it?!”130
He is struggling with the Helm controls, and ambivalently stammering says,131
“I’m . . . not . . . sure? . . . No, sir! . . . Impact in . . . five seconds. Mark!”132
Archer pushes a button on, and then grabs both arms of his chair, and yells saying,133
“All hands! Brace for impact! Full power to the . . . “ but before he can finish, the ship is jolted! The lights fail, and several panels explode! Smoke plumes rise into the air, and fill the room, with toxic fumes! Archer yells, 134
“Damage control, report!”135
Reed is coughing (as is everyone, except T’Pol.) as he yells in a panic saying,136
“Weapons are off-line! Hull plating is damaged, but no breaches, sir!”137
Hoshi frantically whimpers saying,138
“Communications aren’t working either, sir!”139
Trip, frustrated, and scared says,140
“Propulsion systems are down! The environmental controls, I think, are inoperative, John! . . . We’re dead in space!”141
T’Pol is still gazing into her scope, (the only thing on the Bridge that still works, and isn’t burning!) and oblivious to his metaphor (again) says,142
“That is not ’entirely’ accurate, Captain; . . . Life support is failing on the Bridge, only! . . . I am detecting several vessels, similar to the one we just destroyed, on multiple intercept vectors, sir! . . . We are surrounded!. . . “143
She looks up toward Archer with imperativeness. . . 144
“Captain, we are being scanned!”145
Archer looks around at the dark, broken, and burning Bridge. The smoke stings his eyes and lungs. He almost can’t see his coughing, choking crew! He says,146
“All Bridge personnel evacuate, now!”147
The crew start to stumble through the dark, blinding, smoke-filled room toward the elevator, coughing fiercely, but the elevator doors won’t open! As they reach the elevator, one by one, they all start vanishing in patterns of swirling, multi-colored lights, with humming, whirring/whistling noises! They’re being transported, one by one off the Bridge! Archer stumbles toward the vanishing crewmen, coughing! He is the last person left when he shouts, saying,148
“Hey! What in the h -. . . “ and he disappears.149
- - Instantly, ’we’ are in a long hallway. At the far end is a plain, metallic door, and several open doorways line the left side of the white, sterile corridor. . . .150
‘Our’ ’P.O.V.’ is from the corridor into the plain, white, and empty compartment that is second from the end nearest the metallic door. There’s several “lights” that line the inside edge of the open doorway. Inside the “cell”, Archer “materializes” in the same manner (transported) he, and the others disappeared off the Bridge. He continues what he was saying,151
“. . . -ell is going on here?!”152
He looks around startled, sees the open doorway, and hurriedly walks towards it (and ’us’) to exit! He comes in contact with the “force field” across the doorway, temporarily “lighting it up,” and is thrown back onto his butt! He is stunned, and yells out in pain saying,153
“Oooowwww! . . . What in the hell was that?!”154
T’Pol, inside her #1 “cell” nearest the end of the corridor (cell block) with the metallic door, hears Archer next-door, and with a “grasp of the obvious”, says,155
“We have been transported into ‘cells‘, on one of the alien vessels, sir. . . .The doorways are ’blocked’ by . . . ( thinks) ’energy fields’, . . . I would not . . . (thinks) ’recommend’ coming in contact with them. . . . We have been captured, Captain.” as she stoically stands near the opening of her cell, speaking loudly (to be heard), out into the empty hallway!156
Archer (in cell #2) is standing back up, rubbing his aching head, and shouts through the doorway saying,157
“Is everyone else here, and are you O.K.?!” 158
Reed, in his # 3 cell, yells back saying,159
“I bloody-well am, sir!”160
Hoshi, in her # 4 cell, looking terrified says,161
“I’m okay, too, Captain!”162
Travis, in his # 5 cell, leans “near” the doorway, looks to his left down the empty corridor, and says,163
“Same here, sir!”164
Trip, in his # 6 cell, standing near the open doorway, yells out saying,165
“I’m waaaaay the hell down here, John! . . .”166
Trip (being an engineer) slowly reaches out, to gingerly touch the force-field, curiously “testing” it. The field “fluxes” where he touches it, and rapidly (mild shock) pulls his hand back, and says,167
“Ow! . . . T’pol’s right! . . . ‘This” is some kind’a energy field!. . . (He looks at the lights on the edge of the doorway.) These lights, here, must be the . . . (thinks) field emitters!”168
Suddenly, the metallic door at the far end of the corridor rattles (unlocks), opens with a squeak, and a human-looking man, dressed in a strange-looking uniform (about Archer’s age) enters the “cell-block”, and loudly announces, angrily saying,169
“I am the Captain of this ship!. . . You have been captured, and are being transported to our home-world, to stand trial for the crimes of ‘Destroying our military/police ship,’ and the ‘Murder of it’s Captain, and crew’!. . . Who is the leader here?!”170
Archer (#2 cell) yells out to the others saying,171
“Don’t say anything, but your names, ranks, and ship’s duties! O.K.?”172
T’pol (#1 cell) hears this, and unknowingly “blows it” by saying,173
“Yes, Captain.”174
Archer winces in anguish, and thinks, “Doh!” Then he angrily yells saying,175
“Thanks a lot, T’Pol!” and he shakes his head in disgust! T’Pol can be ‘heard’ saying,176
“You are most welcome, Captain,” obliviously from the cell next-door, and Archer cringes, as she unwittingly gives away who the leader is, again!177
“Oh, boy,” he says in disbelief! . . .178
ACT TWO179
- - Seconds later, inside the alien ship’s Brig . . . 180
‘Our’ ‘Point Of View’ is from behind Capt. Archer (in his #2 cell) through the doorway, and into the corridor. Immediately, the angry alien Captain enters ‘view’ from behind the left edge of the doorway, and says,181
“My name is Marcus! . . . You are the Captain of the invading Vulcan ship?!”182
Archer guardedly approaches to “near” the doorway, and says,183
“Yes, My name is Jonathan Archer, and . . . (he thinks) Huh?! . . . Enterprise is not an ‘invading Vulcan ship’!” he defensively replies.184
The irate Capt. Marcus wrathfully says,185
“That is to be determined at your trial!”186
“I demand to know if my ship, and crew are alright! Are they?!”187
This infuriates (more) Marcus, who venomously says,188
“You are in no position to ‘demand’ anything! . . . “189
“You’re right . . . I’m sorry . . . Please?” Archer apologetically says.190
Marcus calms (only slightly), and he says,191
“Out of ‘respect for a fellow Captain’ . . . I will tell you that your ship, and it’s crew are ‘safe’, for now! . . . All the ship’s systems, except for Life-support, and a ‘one-way’ Comm-link have been disabled! It is being towed by an ‘Attractor-beam’, along with us, back to our home-world, for your ‘trial‘! . . . (he thinks) Your ship is not like the other invading Vulcan ‘spy-ship’?!. . . Yet, you do have a Vulcan onboard!”192
Archer grows defensive, and says,193
“That’s because we aren’t a Vulcan ship! The ‘big-mouthed’ Vulcan you passed, next-door, is ‘on loan’ from the Vulcans. She is my Science Officer! . . . (he thinks}Hey! I told you, we’re not an ‘invading Vulcan spy-ship’!”194
Marcus curtly replies saying,195
“I ’told’ you! That will be determined . . . at your trial!”196
Archer gets a puzzled look, and questioningly says,197
“You mentioned the Vulcan ship . . . What happened to them?!”198
Marcus shouts saying,199
“They, and their ship were destroyed . . . after their trial!” Then he turns to his right, and angrily walks out of ‘view’, back toward the metallic door at the near-end of the corridor!200
Archer leans forward, looks to his left, and sarcastically shouts at the departing Marcus saying,201
“Can we expect the same ‘fair trial’ the Vulcans got?!. . .”202
Marcus, walking through the metallic door, is insulted by Archer’s “insinuation”, stops, and turns back to shout saying,203
“That is the one thing you can ‘expect’, murdering aliens!”204
Archer yells back, not realizing Marcus is only twenty feet away, nor his intimation (“fair trial”) saying,205
“Who will represent us in your court?! We don’t know your legal system!” Marcus can be ‘heard’ (out of ‘view’) saying,206
“You will represent yourselves! . . . And ignorance of ‘The Due Process’ is no excuse!” and then the door can be ‘heard’ slamming shut, with a “Clang”! Archer gets a very worried look on his face. Then, with mounting frustration says,207
“Damn! . . . If the Vulcans couldn’t get a ‘fair trial’, what chance do we have?!”208
Trip, in his #6 cell, shakes his head, rubs the back of his neck, and says,209
“I’d say they’re . . . ‘slim t’ none’!”210
T’Pol, stoically standing in her #1 cell, looks to her right (as if “through” the wall) saying,211
“I would concur with Mr. Tucker, sir!”212
Archer, in his #2 cell, has begun to nervously pace his cell. He hears T’Pol, stops, and looks toward her direction (‘our’ right). He childishly “mocks” her, as he says,213
“ ‘I would concur with Mr. Tucker!’. . . Do me a favor, T’Pol?! . . . Put a cork in it!!!” T’Pol can be ’heard’, from her #1 cell, saying,214
“There is no ’cork’ in my cell, Captain?!” This slightly amuses, and confounds him. “How could someone so smart be so stupid, sometimes?!” he thinks, but he says,215
“Never mind! . . . (Begins pacing, again.) I need to think . . . of what we can do!”216
- - Three days later . . . ’We’ can ’see’ into Archer’s #2 cell, from the corridor. He is sitting on the floor, with his back against the far wall. On the floor in front of him is a cup, a plate with some food scraps on it, and silverware. Just as he’s reaching for the cup, everything (except him) “dematerializes” in a manner (lights, and sounds) of the alien Transporter! Archer quickly stands while saying,217
“Hey! . . . (stands) I wasn’t done with that, yet!” The “always angry” voice (only) of Marcus can be ’heard’ coming from the speaker that is high above his cell’s doorway saying,218
“We have reached our home-world! . . . The first Witness/Suspect will now be ’Beamed-down’ to the courtroom! . . .” Archer brushes-off, then straightens up his slightly soiled, and tattered uniform, takes a deep breath, and (sotto voce) says,219
“So much for the ’last meal’ of the condemned,” as he stands erect, and awaits his Transport. The “sound” of the alien Transporter can be ’heard’ growing louder, but then fades away with nothing happening in Archer’s #2 cell! He looks around in confusion, and says,220
“Hey! . . . I’m the Captain of the ship, and solely responsible for . . . ,” but before he can finish, a male voice (of the court’s Bailiff) can be ’heard’ interrupting him, from the speaker, saying,221
“Quiet! The High Governmental Court, in the trial of . . . Enterprise, and crew, is now in session! The honorable Supreme Judge/Ruler, Romana Troi presiding! All ‘others’ will be silent, or they will be excluded from these proceedings! . . .” Archer is dumbfounded as he stares with his mouth agape at the speaker, listening! “ . . .The Prosecution has called his first Witness/Suspect! . . . Please, state your name, role, and alien species, for the recorder . . .” Archer helplessly listens, as the “all too familiar” voice says, “T’Pol. Sub-Commander, and Science Officer. A Vulcan,” and the immediate, disapproving mutterings of a large, angry mob can be ’heard’! Archer thinks, “Oh, boy! Now we’re . . .” but before he can finish the thought, the sound of a gavel can be ’heard’ banging three times, silencing the mutterings, and the firm (and somehow familiar) female voice of the Judge/Ruler can be ’heard’ saying,222
“Order in the courtroom! Any more outbursts from the victims’ relatives in this courtroom will not be tolerated! . . . Prosecutor? . . . Please, begin your case,” and the male, confident, and boisterous voice of the Prosecutor can be ’heard’ saying,223
“Thank you, your honor! . . . May I introduce into evidence the recordings, and testimony of the previous Vulcan ship’s Captain?. . .” Archer thinks about saying something, but doesn’t for fear of exclusion from the trial! The Judge’s voice can be ‘heard’ saying,224
“Defense?. . . Any objections from the defense?!” Archer thinks (puzzled), then says,225
“May I speak now, . . .your honor?” pensively. The female voice is ‘heard’ saying,226
“Are you the Chief Witness/Suspect in this case?!” with some surprise in her voice. Archer must think about this, not knowing if she is, indeed, addressing him. Then, he blurts out saying,227
“Yes, I am, your honor!. . . I am the Captain of the ship, and crew on trial! . . . May I object?. . . We are not responsible for the Vulcan ship!” The Judge’s indignant voice booms back saying,228
“That has yet to be determined! . . . And there is no reason to yell! . . . I can hear you just fine! . . . Can you hear me?” but before Archer can answer, she says, “Good!. . . Your objection is overruled! . . .Proceed, Prosecutor,” and Archer, defeated, sighs in anguish. The Prosecutor says,229
“Thank you, your honor. . . Please, Bailiff? Play back the testimony of the Vulcan ship’s Captain, that I have outlined.” The Bailiff’s voice says, 230
“Yes, sir,” and there is a short pause. Then, the “recorded” voice of the Vulcan Captain (who is / was T’Pol’s father, not that she would disclose this to anyone, logically!) echoes from the speaker saying,231
“We are a science vessel. Not a ’spy-ship’. . . We were charting this portion of space when your ‘ship’ attacked us. Then, they fled toward the nebula, and called for reinforcements. The logical decision was made to defend ourselves, and prevent our capture, but your superior numbers, and weapons made that. . . impossible,” in a stoic manner. Then, the same, but “recorded” echoing voice of the Prosecutor said,232
“Were you afraid?” in a condemning way.233
“No,” the Vulcan Captain said.234
“Were you angry?” he accusingly asked.235
“No, of course not,” he retorted.236
“Did you, at any time, threaten them with words, or actions?” he quizzed T’Pol’s father.237
“Well, . . . yes. We did ’warn’ them not to interfere with us, or we would . . . (thinks) retaliate, but they would not respond to our attempts to communicate,” the Vulcan said with a bewildered tone, then continued, “That is when. . . “ but the recorded voice of the Prosecutor interrupted him, and said,238
“You pursued, and attacked them, without fear, or anger?!” Archer resignedly shakes his head in disgust, thinking, “This Prosecutor guy is one, tough cookie!” as the recorded voice of Vulcan said,239
“Yes. That is what occurred, sir.” 240
“Don’t you feel any guilt, sorrow, remorse for your action?!”241
“No, of course not. We were simply . . . following logic,” the hapless Vulcan’s recorded voice fatally said. The Prosecutor’s recorded voice beamed with confidence as he said, 242
“No more questions! . . .We rest our case!” Archer just shakes his head as the voice of the “live” Prosecutor says,243
“Thank you, Bailiff! . . . Now, Sub-Commander T’Pol! Since our ship in this case was destroyed . . . we will have to rely on your testimony, and the ’records’ of your ship! . . .What happened, in your own words, when your Vulcan spy-ship invaded our space?!” As Archer anxiously listens, the voice of T’Pol says,244
“Sub-Commander T’Pol. Science Officer. A Vulcan,” and Archer knowingly smiles . . . until the voice of the Prosecutor says,245
“Your honor?! May I introduce into evidence the ’surveillance recordings’ made in the holding-cells of the alien invaders, after their capture?!” and Archer’s face snaps to a betrayed, scared expression, and he shouts saying,246
“I object, your honor! . . . We didn’t know we were being ’recorded’! . . . What kind of ’legal system’ is this?!” The voice of the Judge can be ’heard’ saying,247
“Chief Witness/Suspect! . . . Ignorance of ’The Due Process’ is not an acceptable defense! But . . . in the pursuit of justice, which is our primary goal, here, I will. . . ’explain’, briefly, The Due Process to you! Then, I will recess this Court, to allow you time to mount a proper defense!” Archer looks some what relieved, as he says,248
“Thank you, your honor! Very much!” Then the voice of the Judge/Ruler can be ’heard’ firmly, yet swiftly coming through the speaker in his #2 cell, as Archer attentively listens to the disembodied voice say,249
“When an ’alleged crime’ has occurred, the Military/Police Agency is charged with locating, capturing, and charging the ‘Witnesses/Suspects’, and gathering all the evidence against them! . . . The Witnesses/Suspects are considered guilty, until they can prove, beyond all doubt, they are innocent! This is for the benefit of the victims, and their survivors, or families! . . . The ’M.P.A.’ may gather all evidence, by any means necessary, short of ’torture’, ’punishment’, or the ’manufacture of false evidence’, to insure the integrity of the case! That is why the Military/Police Agency is required to inform all the Witnesses/Suspects of their impending trial, the charges against them, and safely transport them here, for trial! . . . You were captured, informed of the impending trial, and the charges?! You weren’t killed, punished, or tortured, and no false evidence has been manufactured against you?! . . . You were safely transported here?! . . . Isn’t this all true?! . . .” and Archer resignedly nods his head, sighs, and says,250
“Yes, your honor, but . . .” He is interrupted.251
“No exceptions to ’The Due Process’ are allowed!” her voice interrupts Archer! 252
“I will continue?! . . . (Archer sighs heavily) Once the trial begins, no further charges, or evidence, other than the testimony of Witnesses, and the Witnesses/Suspects are allowed! . . . This is called ‘The Due Process’! . . . It is the Duty of the Prosecutor to present this evidence, and testimony to this Governmental Court! That is all! . . . It is the ‘Obligatory Duty’ of Witnesses, and Witnesses / Suspects to truthfully testify, and answer all questions posed by the Prosecutor! Any failure to do any of these is considered to be Criminal Obstruction, and failure to testify is an admission of guilt! . . . (Archer sighs, again. No Fifth Amendment rights!) It is the Duty of this Court, that would be me, to judge, and weigh the validity, accuracy, and relevancy of this evidence, and testimony, and render a verdict! . . . Is that clear?!” Archer looks confused! Then, with desperation, he warily says,253
“Yes, your honor, . . . (Thinks) but what are our ‘rights’?!” he begs! Her angry ‘voice’ echoes back saying,254
“I thought I made myself clear about that! . . . You have no rights, here! . . . (Her voice calms as Archer “gulps”!) . . . I’m sorry . . . ‘Captain’?. . . You do have the ‘right’, or should I say, the ‘obligation’ , to testify truthfully, to prove you’re innocent, and disprove the validity, or relevancy of the evidence, and testimony against you! . . . Once the Prosecutor has ‘rested’ the case, you have ‘presented’ your case! . . . Then, ‘Final Arguments’ will be heard by this Court, . . . Next, I will ‘deliberate’ in my chambers, and record my verdict, and it will be ‘executed’, . . . (Archer gasps at “executed”!) in the pursuit of justice! . . . Now that I have explained ‘The Due Process’ for you, I will rule on your objection! . . . Overruled! The Due Process must be served! This Court is in recess! . . . , “ and the sound of the gavel banging can be ‘heard’. Then, the speaker goes silent, and Archer can ‘hear’ the sound of the alien Transporter in the #1 cell next-door. He says, 255
“Is that you, T’Pol?” T’Pol can be ‘heard’.256
“Yes, Captain, I am here, now,” she says. 257
Archer looks very worried, and says, 258
“Well, everybody! . . . It looks like our gooses are cooked! . . .” Hoshi, from her 259
#4 cell (being a language expert) , can be ‘heard’, as she corrects Archer saying,260
“That’s ‘geese’ , sir! The plural of goose is geese, Captain, “ with fear in her voice. Archer starts pacing, again. He says, 261
“Oh? . . . Well, ‘they’ sure are cooked!” Reed’s voice, from #3 cell, can be 262
‘heard’ saying, 263
“They bloody-well are, sir! .” . . . 264
T’Pol has a confused expression as she says,265
“But, Captain, I am a vegetarian. I cannot eat this ‘goose’, sir.” 266
All the others snicker, and roll their eyes at T’Pol’s misinterpretation! 267
Archer shakes his head, and with annoyance says,268
“Never mind, T’Pol! . . . It looks like we’re all going to end-up ‘eating it’!”. . .269
ACT THREE270
Minutes later, inside the alien ship’s Brig ‘Our’ ‘Point Of View’ is from the far end, down the long corridor toward the metallic door at the other end. The six cell doorways, blocked by force-fields, line the left side wall. Their order (of occupancy) is from the metallic door, back: #1
- - Immediately, the sound of the metallic door being unlocked can be ’heard’, and ’we’ are instantly inside Archer’s #2 cell. He is pacing in between ’us’, and the doorway to the corridor. ’We’ can ’hear’ the metallic door swing open with a creaking sound, and Archer stops to face the doorway. Captain Marcus (always angry) enters ’view’ from the left edge of the doorway in the corridor, stoops, and says,272
“You wished to see me, Captain?!”273
Archer looks surprised, and says, 274
“Yes! . . . But how did you know?!”275
Marcus points up toward the speaker, high above the doorway, and says,276
“The speakers allow us to hear you!”277
Archer is confused, and says, 278
“But I thought you can’t use information gathered after the trial has started?!”279
“This is true, but it is my ’Duty’, as an ’Officer of the Court’, to insure your safety, from capture to the end of trial! . . . I swore an ’Oath of Office’, to uphold ’The Due Process’, and carry out my ’duties’, ’in the pursuit of justice’! . . . I take my ’Duty’ very seriously!”280
“Well, that’s good, . . . but why are you so angry?!”281
Marcus seethes as he says, 282
“My l-. . . (he almost says, “lover”!} . . . -ife-long best friend ’was’ the Captain of the ship you destroyed! That is why I’m angry!”283
Archer is stunned, and says,284
“Oh, . . . I’m sorry, . . . But we didn’t mean to destroy that ship, though! . . . It was a horrible ’accident’!” imploringly.285
Marcus is unmoved as he says, 286
“That, also, has yet to be determined! . . . Is there anything else?!”287
“Yes, . . . Did the Vulcans destroy the ship they encountered?!”288
Marcus is taken aback by this, and scoffingly says, 289
“No! . . . Of course not! . . . This, my ship, is ’the ship’ they ’encountered’!”290
Archer is very confused now, and says, 291
“Huh?! Then why were they ’tried’, and ’executed’?!”292
Marcus is less angry, but only slightly, as he explains saying,293
“They were charged with ’ignoring the warning shot’, ’invading our space’, and ’attacking a Military / Police ship’! . . . This ship . . . The charges against you are much more serious, Captain!”294
“Huh?! That was a ’warning shot‘?! . . . Why didn’t you just tell them to go away?!” Archer asks with astonishment.295
“It is our ’standard policy’ to not communicate with ’potential criminals’! . . . This is part of ’The Due Process’!” Marcus explains.296
Archer is still perplexed, and he says,297
“I don’t understand, what are the charges against us, anyway?!”298
Marcus says,299
“I told you, when you were captured! . . . (He calms, slightly, and thinks.) . . . Huhmmm. It is a matter of the Court’s records, . . . (He thinks about it, and grows angrier!) The charges are ‘Destroying a Military / Police ship’, and ‘Murdering’ its’ crew and Captain! . . . My best friend! . . . “ and he turns, and briskly walks out of ‘view’, back toward the opened metallic door.300
Archer stands near the doorway, looks to his left, and beseechingly says,301
“But how can we convince you, and your people that it was an accident?!”302
Marcus is standing at the opened metallic door, and T’Pol can be ‘seen’ in front of him, through the doorway of her 303
#1 cell. Marcus faces back toward Archer, and says,304
“If I were you, I would try telling the truth! . . .(He faces T’Pol, and shouts . . .)305
Make the prisoner transfer!” The alien Transporter-Beam engulfs T’Pol, and as she dematerializes, Archer re-materializes in her place!306
From behind Archer (Over The Shoulder), ‘we’ can ‘see’ Marcus at the metallic door saying,307
“I’m sorry, Captain. We have determined that you are the Chief Witness / Suspect, and not your Vulcan friend! . . . However, since she has already begun her testimony, you will be the last to testify, instead of the first!” and he abruptly walks through, and slams the metallic door closed with a “CLANG”! 308
Archer looks around his new #1 cell, and in a “sotto voce” (to himself) says,309
“Well . . . it looks like T’Pol’s cell is as bare as mine was,” and T’Pol can be ‘heard’ saying,310
“There is no ‘cork’ in this cell, either, sir?!” Archer snickers at her, then says,311
“Never mind, T’Pol. You don’t get it, “ as he begins pacing, and thinking. 312
T’Pol thinks to herself. “He must have taken the cork with him.”313
Archer gets a revelation, and says,314
“Listen up, everyone! I have an idea! . . . T’Pol, what was it like, in the courtroom?”315
Later . . . In the Courtroom. ‘We’ are near the side wall of the “arena” portion of the courtroom. Across an open floor area from ‘us’ can be ‘seen’ a large, blank viewscreen on the opposite wall. To ‘our’ right is a long, narrow rail, and beyond that (out of ‘view’) is the mumbling gallery of people. Just inside ‘our’ ‘view’, from “that” is a wall to wall, enclosed by a railing, with “lights” on it, (force-field emitters) but narrow “Witness Box”. To ‘our’ left, the Judges Bench faces the Witness Box. It is tall, and wide, with a small stairway at the near, back side, against the wall, leading up to the Judge’s high-backed chair. There’s a large, metallic emblem -seal in the shape of a “B” on the wall behind that. To the near-front corner of the Bench is a Podium, and the Bailiff. Behind him, is a large door. The Prosecutor is standing between the Bench and the Witness Box.316
The door behind the Bailiff opens, and an elderly (60’s), stately woman wearing a white robe enters. As she (the Judge / Ruler) ascends the stairway leading to her chair, the Bailiff pushes a button on the Podium, and loudly says,317
“Order in the courtroom! . . . (The gallery quiets.) I have started the recorder. The Honorable Judge / ruler has re-taken the Bench.”318
The Judge (who looks strangely familiar to ‘us’) bangs the gavel twice, and nods to the Prosecutor, and then the Bailiff, and says,319
“Recall the Witness / Suspect, please.”320
The Bailiff pushes another button, and T’Pol “materializes” in the Witness Box.321
“Proceed, Prosecutor,” the Judge says, and he approaches to in front of T’Pol, and says, 322
“Now, Vulcan! . . . ,” and the gallery behind her starts angrily muttering! T’Pol turns around, and raises an eyebrow as she “sees” their angry faces. 323
The Judge bangs the gavel several times, and angrily says,324
“That’s it! . . . The gallery has been warned! . . . Bailiff,. Beam the gallery from this courtroom!” The Bailiff operates some controls on his Podium. 325
T’Pol’s face is lit up by the Transporter lights, as she watches the entire gallery disappear! She raises her eyebrow again, with an impressed expression, and says,326
“Fascinating, . . .Your technology is vastly superior to ours,” and she turns back toward the Prosecutor, who says, 327
“That is obvious by the ease in which both of your Vulcan spy ships were disabled, and captured!” T’Pol says, 328
“My father’s ‘ship’ was a science vessel, not a ‘spy ship’!” The Prosecutor says, 329
“So! You Vulcans sent another spy ship to avenge . . . “ but Archer’s voice booms out of the speaker, interrupting him saying,330
“I object, your honor!“331
The Judge looks puzzled, looks down at her desk-top, and says,332
“I’m sorry . . . Captain Archer, is it? . . . What exactly is it you’re objecting to? The Prosecutor hasn’t asked his question, yet!”333
Archer’s voice says,334
“Your honor? The Prosecutor is making ‘false statements’ in an attempt to ‘influence’ the court against us! . . . The evidence will show that we are not a ‘Vulcan spy ship’! . . . Thusly, he is . . . ‘manufacturing false evidence’!”335
The Judge leans forward, scowls at the Prosecutor, and irately says,336
“ This court realizes these proceedings are being telecast system-side, and the Prosecutor is running for re-election, but let me caution you! If it is, later determined that you are, indeed, ‘manufacturing false evidence’, you will be ‘dis-barred’, and ‘executed’! . . . Now, in the pursuit of justice, and ‘The Due Process’, do you have anything to say to this court, in response to the objection?!”337
The Prosecutor is embarrassed, and says, 338
“I . . . uh . . . do . . . er . . . your honor. Uhm . . . (Thinks) I would like to withdraw all statements made in reference to ‘this’ ship being a ‘Vulcan spy ship’, . . . if I may?!” stammering.339
The Judge says,340
“Very well! The objection is sustained! . . . (Bangs gavel) The Prosecutor may proceed, with extreme caution!”341
The Prosecutor gathers his thoughts, and says, 342
“Ahem! Thank you, your honor, . . . Now Vulcan! . . . (Thinks) May I assume you are a Vulcan?!” and he sneers at her. She remains stoic, as always, and says,343
“Yes, I am Vulcan, . . . but you may address me as T’Pol, . . . That is my name.”344
“Very well, ‘T’Pol’! . . . I ask you, again! . . . (Thinks) Oh, yes! . . . In your own words, tell this court what happened as your Vul- . . .umh, ’invading alien ship’ entered our space?!” he says in a boisterous display of showmanship. T’Pol says,345
“Let me testify that our ’ship’ is not an ’invading alien vessel’! . . . We . . . ,” but he interrupts her saying,346
“Did you enter our space, uninvited?!”347
“Yes, but . . . “348
“Is your ship indigenous to our space?!”349
“No, but . . . “350
“Then I put it to you, that yours is an invading alien ship!”351
“I suppose, from your viewpoint, we are!” she relents. 352
He “parades” saying, 353
“Thank you, Vulcan! . . . Now, may I direct your attention to the viewscreen?! (He points) Bailiff?! Please, play the recordings taken from their own ship’s ’Black Box’ of their Bridge, for the times I have outlined?! . . . “354
Archer’s voice loudly emits from the speaker saying, 355
“I object, your honor! . . .“ 356
The Judge loudly, and curtly says,357
“Overruled! . . .(Bangs gavel.) Bailiff? Please continue.”358
The Bailiff operates the controls.359
The large Viewscreen snaps on, revealing the Bridge of NX-01 Enterprise at the time just after Travis asked to increase the speed. Archer is standing behind T’Pol, and said,360
“No, no . . . I want to take full . . .(Skip ahead.) . . . , it’s not every day we come across a region of space that even the Vulcans haven’t charted, and are ‘afraid’ to explore! . . . “ T’Pol said,361
“Captain, . . . may I ‘remind’ you that ‘fear’ is an ‘emotion’?. . . There is a ’logical’ reason the Vulcans will not . . . ’explore’ here! . . . ,” and the Prosecutor interrupts the recording saying,362
“Pause recording! . . . (Replay stops.) Vulcan?! What is the ’logical reason’?!”363
“After my father’s vessel was ’presumed’ destroyed, the Vulcan High Command, and the Science Counsel decided it was illogical to risk further vessels, and crews to explore . . . (Thinks.) here,” T’Pol stoically says.364
The Prosecutor throws his arms up, “parades” again, and says,365
“Thank you, Vulcan! . . . This demonstrates that our ’Standard Policies’, and ’the case’ I prosecuted against the Vulcan ship does deter further ’invasion’ of our space! . . . “366
The Judge looks annoyed, and interrupts saying,367
“No! . . . What it ‘demonstrates’ is that you are ‘Grandstanding’, and ‘in the pursuit of ‘ re-election! . . . Please, continue! We have much more evidence, and testimony to hear!”368
The Prosecutor is embarrassed, and says,369
“Er . . . Yes, your honor. . . . I apologize, . . . Bailiff, continue the recording!”370
The screen flashes on, right where it left off, with Archer growing annoyed.371
“Yeah, yeah! . . . Now we know all about the Vulcan . . . (Skip ahead) . . . Full stop! Polarize Hull-plating! Arm all Weapon-systems! Hoshi, hail them! . . . Red Alert!”372
The Prosecutor interrupts, again saying,373
“Pause recording! . . . (Replay stops) Vulcan?! Were you afraid at this point?!” T’Pol says,374
“No, . . . But that is because . . . ,“ but the Prosecutor interrupts saying,375
“Were you angry?! . . .” 376
T’Pol says, 377
“No, Vulcans do not feel ‘emotions’.”378
“Yes! We already ‘knew’ this! . . . Bailiff?! . . . “379
The screen flips back on. the lights dim, and the Klaxon sounds on the Bridge. Archer is sitting in his chair, and said 380
“ . . . Any response to our hails yet, Ensign?! . . . (Skip ahead . . . The Bridge is dark and smoke-filled , etc.) . . . All Bridge personnel evacuate, now! . . . “ (The screen goes blank)381
The Prosecutor “parades” again, saying,382
“I have no further questions of this Witness / Suspect! . . . (He calms) Your honor?!” 383
The Judge sighs, looks gravely concerned, and says,384
“Very well, Prosecutor, . . (Angers) T’Pol! . . . You Vulcans have got to be the most ‘cold-blooded’ creatures in space! . . . You are excused! . . . (The Bailiff pushes a button, and T’Pol “Beams” out!) . . . I’m calling a short recess, before the next Witness / Suspect! . . . My stomach is turning! (She bangs the gavel twice.) This court is in recess!” As she stands to leave, (She looks a lot like Majel Barrett-Rodenberry!) the Bailiff has pushed the button that ends the “Comm-link”, and the recorder! . . . 385
- - Instantly, ‘we’ are back in the corridor of the alien ship’s Brig. ‘Our’ ‘ P.O.V.’ is into T’Pol’s #2 cell. She is explaining to Archer why she didn’t mention her “father” was the Captain, and Chief Scientist of the Vulcan ship.386
“. . . for the same reason you found no purpose in telling me about your father, or his death, sir.”387
Archer, in his #1 cell, nods his head, and says,388
“Oh, . . . I see your point.” (Point! Get it?)389
T’Pol sighs in relief she’s “done”, and says,390
“That went rather well, I think.”391
Trip, in his #6 cell, rolls his eyes, and says,392
“Oh, yeah! That went about as ‘well’ as a Warp-core breach!”393
T’Pol says,394
“But a Warp-core breach is disastrous?!”395
Hoshi, in her #4 cell, sardonically says,396
“Exactly, T’Pol! . . . The Judge was right about you! You are ‘cold-blooded’!”397
T’Pol doesn’t “get” the metaphor, and says,398
“My ‘blood’ may be green, but it is not ‘cold’.”399
Travis, in his #5 cell, exasperatedly says,400
“She just doesn’t ‘get it’, does she?!”401
Reed, in his #3 cell, sarcastically says,402
“No! . . . And she ‘bloody’ never will!”403
Archer, in his #1 cell, is disappointedly annoyed with the course of events, and T’Pol, and says,404
“I’m afraid your cold, ‘emotionless logic’ has put us all in ‘hot water’, T’Pol!”405
T’Pol’s expression is apprehensive as she quickly looks about the floor of her cell! Then, her countenance changes to that of bewilderment. She looks towards Archer’s cell’s direction, (Her left.) and says,406
“Captain?! There is no ’hot water’ in my cell! Are your cells flooding?” She ‘hears’ all the others (Almost in unison.) yelling frustratedly back at her saying,407
“T’Pol!” She looks more puzzled, and says,408
“Well? Are they?!”409
Trip, in his #6 cell, has his hands on his hips, and sarcastically says,410
“I don’t know about yawl, but it’s gettin’ pretty ‘deep’ in my cell!”411
T’Pol, in her #2 cell, is still oblivious, and says,412
“Can you ‘swim’, Mr. Tucker?”. . .413
ACT FOUR414
- - Days Later . . . ‘We’ are back in the Courtroom. ‘Our’ ‘P.O.V.’ is the same as before, across the “arena” area. To the right, the “Witness Box” is empty, and to the left, the Judge is walking up the stairway to her chair. She “nods” to the Prosecutor, and then the Bailiff, whom pushes the button to start the “Telecast”, and the “recording”. As she sits, she bangs the gavel three times, and says,415
“Very well, . . . Bailiff, summon the last, and Chief Witness/Suspect,” with authority. The Bailiff nods, and pushes a button.416
Archer is “Beamed” into the Witness Box. He “pats his body down“, and says,417
“I’ll never get used to that . . . “Beaming” thing!”418
The Judge appears annoyed, and with a very stern tone says,419
“Captain Archer! We have had this level of technology for well over five-million years, now! . . . (She calms herself.) It is perfectly safe. . . . You have heard all the testimony of your crew, and the evidence presented by the Prosecutor in this case?!”420
With fear on his face, and in his voice he says,421
“Yes, your honor. I have.”422
“And you, yourself have testified, and ‘seen’ the evidence presented?”423
“Yes, your honor, . . . but I have a question about your ‘Due Process’?”424
The Judge becomes quite annoyed, and says,425
“This trial has been very long! . . . (As if she could “read” the fear, and anguish Archer felt about not getting a “fair trial”, she calms, and continues saying.) But, ‘In the pursuit of justice’, to insure a ‘fair trial’, and The Due Process, I will allow this question you have.”426
With fearful hesitation he “gulps”, and says,427
“In . . . the event . . . we are, somehow . . . ‘miraculously’ found . . . to be innocent of these ‘charges’, will ‘others’ be brought against us?!”428
The Judge enrages, and angrily says,429
“I thought I made myself painfully clear about that! . . . The Due Process mandates, . . .‘once the trial has begun’, no further evidence, or ‘charges’ may be introduced! . . . ‘In the event’ you are, somehow, ‘miraculously’ found ‘not guilty’, you and your ship . . . ‘may’ be released! As ‘reparations’ are being made, you would be ‘escorted’ out of our space, and ‘ordered’ to never return! Does that answer your question?!”430
Archer cringes in terror, not understanding half of what she said, and says,431
“Yes, your honor, . . . and thank you.”432
“Don’t thank me, yet! I have yet to render my Verdict! Now, if there are no further ‘delays’?! . . . (Silence!) Prosecutor? Present your ‘final statement’,” she says.433
With the consummate showmanship of a “soap-box politician”, he orates, while swaggering, waving his arms dramatically, and pacing in front of Archer. He says,434
“Thank you, your honor! I will not ’presume’ to waste any more of this Court’s time! . . . Even without the testimony of the Victims in this case, the evidence is clear! This . . . ’Enterprise’ did destroy the Military/Police ship! They did ’kill’ it’s Captain, and crew! . . . The Due Process has been served! . . . In their own testimony, with the exception of the Vulcan, all the Witnesses/Suspects did admit to feelings of fear, and anger! Yet, none of them, including the Vulcan, admit, nor demonstrate feelings of remorse, or guilt! . . . They were ’simply following orders’! . . . Your honor, herself, pointed out that, even in the computer records of their own, brief ’history’, that blindly ‘following orders’ is not an excuse for guilt! . . . The Due Process must be served! . . . In the pursuit of justice, your honor must render an ‘appropriate Judgement‘! . . . Thank you, your honor!”435
The Judge is visibly relieved by his brevity, and says,436
“Thank you, Prosecutor, for that very effectively, and quickly delivered Final Statement! . . . Defense?!”437
Archer is noticeably nervous, and says,438
“Your honor? . . . May I leave this Witness Box, to give my Final Statement?!”439
The Judge leans forward, smiles, and sarcastically says,440
“I would ’recommend’ against it, Captain! There is a level-ten force-field around it! . . . You will deliver your Final Statement from there! . . . This is, The Due Process!” 441
Archer is shaken by this, and says,442
“Uhmmm . . . I’m sorry, your honor?! . . . Let me see-eeee? . . . ,” and he “tries” to gather his thoughts, to say . . . something!443
The Judge senses, somehow, his feelings, and in a motherly, sympathetic manner says,444
“Captain Archer, . . . I can ‘empathize’ with you, and your crew, . . . except for that Vulcan! . . . I can ‘empathize’ with your feelings, but . . . The Due Process must be served! . . . Take your time to deliver your Final Statement . . . Your ‘lives’ depend upon it! . . . But, in the pursuit of justice, I must deliver a fair, and appropriate Verdict!” (More)445
“. . . Keep ‘this’ in mind.”446
Archer is a “little” relieved, and says,447
“Thank you, your honor . . . Through the course of this trial, . . . I have heard those two terms many times! . . . ‘The Due Process’, . . . I ‘believe’, is your term for the ‘Law, and Order’, in space, and at home. Your procedures! . . . But it ‘seems’ like much more! It ‘seems’ to be your Governmental policies, and, I think, your ‘religion’ as well! . . . Our systems, and methods may vary from yours’ a little, but they ‘seem’, to me, to have the same ‘goals’ in mind! . . . ‘In the pursuit of justice’ is the other ‘term’! . . . In this way, our two ‘systems’ are exactly alike! The search for truth, and justice is ‘paramount’ to us both! In this, ‘we’ place our faith, and hope! In this, ‘I’ must rely! The fate of my ship, and crew hangs . . . uhm, depends on this, alone! . . . We did enter your ‘space’, but not out of aggression! We knew nothing of your people, here, in the ‘Sagittarius Arm’! We were . . . simply, curious! I’m surprised, that for as long as you’ve had your technology, you haven’t explored, and found us! Five-million years is a long time to stay here, without exploring outward?! . . . We did ‘ignore the warning shot’, but out of ignorance, and fear! Not revenge, or retaliation! We did fire on that ship, but out fear! That what happened to the previous, Vulcan ship, was about to happen to us! Not out of hatred, or revenge! We did destroy that ship, while it was in the nebula, but it was accidental, and a tragic mistake! Not a deliberate act, nor did we mean to cause any deaths! . . . We don’t feel any guilt, or remorse, because that would ‘imply’ we meant for it to happen! . . . We did not! . . . We do, however, feel ‘regret’, and a deep . . . “(More) “sorrow that it happened! This is because ‘we’ are ‘human’! . . . ‘We’ are not like the Vulcans! We don’t like, or trust the Vulcans, for many reasons, much like you! ‘We’ have feelings, and emotions! So do you! These, also, cause us to make many mistakes, such as the ones we have made, here! . . . If I could change the past, I would! . . . But I can’t. If destroying my ship is the only way to make ‘reparations’, then so be it! But, please, . . . for the sake of future ships, and crews, . . . of both our peoples, as well as others! . . . Please, . . . you must reconsider your ‘Policy of Silence’! Silence only brings fear, and misunderstanding! Communication can only bring hope, and understanding! It is my hope, that one day . . . our two peoples can reach an understanding, and be good friends! It is my hope . . . that a tragedy, such as has happened here, will never happen again! To your people . . . as well as mine, and ‘others’! Even the Vulcans! It is my hope that . . . ultimately . . . ‘justice’ will be served! . . . The fate of both of our peoples . . . rests in your hands, your honor! . . . Thank you, your honor,” and he respectfully bows.448
The Judge “was” intently listening, but she sighs, and “looks”, apparently, “unmoved” as she, in a manner-of-fact way, says,449
“Very well. I’m calling a recess, while I consider the evidence, testimony, and the Final Statements . . . in my Chambers. Bailiff, return the Chief Witness/Suspect to his cell.”450
The Bailiff nods, and pushes the button on his Podium.451
Archer “dematerializes” from the Witness Box, with a worried expression . . . 452
- - Instantaneously, ’we’ can ’see’ into (from the corridor) Archer’s “empty” #1 cell. Archer “rematerializes” inside, just in time to ‘hear’ the Judge’s voice say,453
“This Court is in recess! . . . (Gavel bangs),” and the speaker goes silent! Archer is still very worried, and he starts to pace his cell.454
T’Pol, in her #2 cell, is unsure, and puzzled as she asks Archer (next-door) saying,455
“Did ’that’ go well, sir?”456
Archer stops, does a “double-take”, (Thinking she’s being a “smart-ass”.) and snidely says,457
“Hah, hah, T’Pol! Ve-rrrry funny!”458
“It was not my goal to be . . . ’funny’, Captain?” 459
“Well, you accomplished your goal, T’Pol,” he sarcastically says. He thinks, and then says,460
“Hhmmmm . . . I wonder if I accomplished mine?” and he begins to pace his cell, again . . . 461
- - Twenty Minutes Later . . . Captain Marcus is angry (As usual.) as he walks toward the metallic door, and unlatches the hasp-lock. He opens the heavy, squeaky door, and ’we’ can ’see’ past him, into the corridor of the Cell-Block. Captain Archer stands near the opening of his #1 cell as Marcus yells down the corridor from the opened door saying,462
“Attention, Witnesses/Suspects! Please, step up to the doorways!” 463
Archer looks puzzled, and asks him, saying,464
“What’s going on, Captain Marcus?”465
Marcus ignores Archer, as he looks up the corridor to see the others are starting to stand in their doorways, and says,466
“That’s it! Stand where I can see you! . . . Now, stand still! . . . (To Archer) ‘What’s going on’, Captain Archer, is the end of this trial, and the ‘hard part’ of my Duty1 . . . Now, the best part of my Duty is about to begin!” and he smirks.467
Archer is really confused, and concerned! 468
“Huh? . . . ‘The hard part’?! ‘The best part‘?!” he says with a grimace.469
Marcus steps closer to Archer, and with a snide grin says,470
“Yes! The ’hard part’ was insuring your safety, until the end of this trial! The ‘best part’ of my Duty, as Chief of Military/Police, is the execution . . . of the Verdict!”471
Through the opened metallic door, (From behind Marcus) ‘we’ can ‘see’ down the corridor, as he steps back to see all the frightened (except T’Pol) crew standing in their cells’ doorways, on the right-side of the corridor. T”Pol (in her #2 cell) says, 472
“Perhaps, Captain, the brevity of the Judge’s ‘deliberations’ would indicate the ease of her decision?” Archer says, 473
“That’s what I’m ‘afraid’ of, T’Pol!” The Bailiff’s voice interrupts saying,474
“Quiet, prisoners! The honorable Judge/Ruler has returned, and is taking the Bench.” The gavel, banging thrice, can be ‘heard’, and the Judge’s voice is ‘heard’ saying,475
“I’m ready to render my verdict! . . . Bailiff, summon the Witnesses/Suspects!”476
Simultaneously, (from the right side of the corridor) they all “dematerialize” from the doorways of their cells! . . . 477
- - Instantaneously, ‘we’ are in the courtroom. The Judge and Bailiff are on the left side, and the empty Witness Box is on the right. Simultaneously, “in order” (away from “P.O.V.”) Archer, T’Pol, Lt. Reed, Hoshi, Travis, and Trip rematerialize in the Witness Box, scared and frightened, but closer together than they were, in their separate cells! Archer looks around the Court, and says,478
“Where’s the Prosecutor?” 479
The Judge bangs her gavel twice, and angrily says, 480
“Quiet! . . . The Prosecutor is no longer required in this trial! I have deliberated, and will now render my verdict! . . . (She calms, a little.) Captain Archer, You have given this Court much to think about, but . . . The Due Process, as it stands . . . for the last five-million years, must be served! . . . (She hands the “Padd” to the Bailiff.) . . . The verdict hasbeen rendered! . . . (As the Bailiff walks back to his Podium, she continues . . . ) The Due Process has, and will be served! In the pursuit of justice . . . this Court is adjourned!” and she bangs the gavel, once, and stands to leave. The Baoliff places the padd on the Podium, and watches the Judge exit the courtroom. Then he turns back toward the terrified Bridge crew, and pushes the buttons to “Beam” them out! 481
Everyone, except T’Pol, is petrified with fear as they dematerialize in unison! . . .482
- - Continuously, they rematerialize inside the doorways of their cells, and step back, out of ’view’, away from the force-fields, in their cells. But they don’t realize where they are! 483
Archer gasps as he looks around . . . T’Pol looks around the floor, expecting the “hot water” to begin flooding in . . . Lt. Reed looks back and forth, expecting a “death ray” . . . Hoshi is huddled on the floor, whimpering in terror . . . Travis is looking from side to side, expecting the walls to close in on him . . . Trip looks at the floor, waiting for it to open up, and drop him into a pit of hideous, man-eating creatures . . . Archer can hear the others panicked sounds, and crying, and says,484
“What is this?! . . . Extermination (Gulps) chambers?!” The ‘voice’ of Marcus says, 485
“Relax, Captain! . . . We are not ‘barbarians’, like you! . . . You are back in your holding-cells!” from the speaker. Archer is looking up at it, and yells,486
“What’s happening to me, my crew, and ship, now?!” Marcus’ ’voice’ says,487
“Right now?! . . . (chuckles) You ’think’ us to be as barbaric as you! No, The Due Process dictates that you, your crew, and ship be taken back, to the ’scene of the crime’, or the ’point of capture’, where the ’sealed verdict’ will be read, and executed! . . . We will ’Beam’ you back to your ship . . . for the ’reading of the sealed verdict’, and ’execution’ of ’it’! (Archer thinks “it” is the ship, but Marcus meant the verdict!) This is The Due Process!”488
Quick, short ’views’ of :T’Pol, stoically, but anxious . . . Reed, scared and pacing . . . Hoshi, huddled and crying . . . Travis, frightened and hyperventilating . . . Trip, afraid and panicking . . . Archer, worried and shaking his head, and then he says,489
“Can I contact my ship, and tell them what’s going on?!” Marcus’ angry ‘voice’ says,490
“I told you! Everything, except for ’life-support’, and a ’one-way’ Comm-link to your ship has been disabled! Your ship, and crew has heard everything that has happened! Did you not hear me?!” Archer drops his head in embarrassment, rubs the back of his neck, and says,491
“O-ooooh,” and starts pacing his cell. . . . 492
- - Three Days Later. Everything on the Bridge of Enterprise is normal, but empty! Shortly, (from right to left, in the same order of their cells) Archer, T’Pol, Reed, Hoshi, Travis, and Trip materialize between the Helm, and the Main Viewscreen in unison! They look around, startled, and Archer says,493
“Everyone?! Take your stations!” They all do, and start to check the systems. Archer sits in his chair as the elevator doors open, and Dr Phlox, (The ship’s Doctor, who is a happy-go-lucky, philosophical, male Denobulan, that is on Enterprise by Archer’s request, from the Vulcan’s Inter-species Exchange Program.) enters, and says,494
“We heard everything, Captain. The ship has been ’repairing’ itself, for the last day, or so. They were using Transporter technology to do it. It was like magic! Oh, well . . . I just thought I’d come up here, and make sure you all are alright. Were you mistreated?”495
“Not right now, doctor! We’re all about to die, anyway! . . . (To all) Status?!”496
Travis, at the Helm, says,497
“Propulsion, and Navigation systems are . . . (He looks puzzled) operational?! We are stationary, sir!” 498
Trip, at his Engineering station, looks surprised, and says,499
“Confirmed, John, Engines, Life Support, and all Engineering systems are nominal. I don’t get it, John?”500
Lt. Reed, at his Tactical station, looks confused, and says, 501
“All Weapons and Defensive systems are operational, Captain! Should I? . . . “502
T’Pol, at her Science station, interrupts saying,503
“Must I remind the Lieutenant? Their five-million year old technology is vastly superior to ours.” 504
Archer says,505
“She has a ‘point’, . . . or ‘two’, there, Malcolm.”506
Hoshi, at her Comm. station, looks very, very frightened as she says,507
“Captain! We’re being hailed by the alien vessel! It’s Captain Marcus, sir!”508
Archer sighs, and with anxious resignation says,509
“Alright, . . . Let’s get this over with. . . . Put it up on the Main Viewscreen, and put it on ship-wide.”510
Hoshi shyly nods, operates the controls, and . . . 511
Suddenly, ‘we’ are behind Archer, and can ‘see’ the strange looking alien vessel on the Viewscreen. The picture quickly switches to one of Captain Marcus, sitting at a control panel. He is eager to “blow them to kingdom come”, as he says,512
“I will now open, and transmit the ‘reading’ of the ‘sealed verdict’! Good-bye, Captain Archer!” He places the Padd down on the panel, and pushes a button. The picture switches to the Judge, sitting in her chambers at a large desk, with the wall behind her filled with books on shelves. It is “pre-recorded”, and she says,513
“This case has been very trying for me! . . . And my verdict is . . . the most difficult I have ever had to render! . . . The Prosecutor has effectively presented the evidence against Enterprise, and it is substantial! . . . They did destroy the Military/Police ship, and murdered its’ Captain, and crew! . . . After hearing all the evidence, and testimony in this case, my decision, and verdict are ‘painfully’ clear! . . . (Archer cringes at “painfully”!) . . . However, I did a little research into our archives, and the computer data of Enterprise, and I’ve discovered a disturbing fact! . . . It appears that, five-million years ago, before The Due Process was adopted, our technology was the same, but our people weren’t! The ‘Alpha’ through the ‘Omega’ warred with each other! All was chaos! Then, we explored many regions of space, and had many Atlantis-colonies! When ‘The Great Yahwaihy’ united all our people under The Due Process, some factions disagreed, and were banished to some of these Atlantis-colonies. That is when we adopted the ’Policy of Silence’. Osirus Orion, and his consort Isis Dianah, Zeus, Posiden, his son Adam Atlas, and ‘others’ settled on one of the most primitive, called ‘Eden/Atlantis’. They were marooned there, and all but forgotten. Apparently they mated with some of the early primate-humaniods, and created hybrid offspring! That planet was, I think, your Earth! Those hybrid offspring are your ancestors! Your historical records, and your ‘Bible’ prove it! The united peoples of this new order of the Due Process were no longer ‘Alpha’, or any of the others, but we all became . . . ‘Beta’! The ’Great Yahwaihy’ was both ’Alpha’ and ’Omega’. We closed our outer borders to any of the exiled factions, but we didn’t think, that in five-million years, their descendents would reach out, and explore! The sins of the father are not to be visited on his children. This does not change my verdict, however! I just thought it interesting, that’s all! . . . (She gets a more serious, solemn expression.) The High Governmental Court of Beta-Zed finds the defendants in this case . . . not guilty, by ’reason of intent’! . . . (You can almost hear the entire crew of the ship celebrating, right through the bulkheads and deck plating! The Bridge crew breathe a sigh of relief, but,) . . . However, . . . the Captain, during his Final Statement, brought to the attention of this court a valid point, . . . other than our ’common ancestry’! . . . This Court is, therefore, ordering a repeal of The Due Process Standard Military/Police Procedures! . . . Without communication, there are bound to be misunderstandings! . . . Captain Archer! You and your ship are released, and ordered to leave our space, immediately! Do not return . . . until your species, and the ’others’ out there can establish some kind of . . . comfederation of the various planetary systems, and make it work! After a hundred years from then , and only then, you may negotiate diplomatic relations with us! Until then, stay away! You have been warned! . . . Also, warn the Vulcans! They are not welcome here! We can not empathize with such a ’cold-blooded’, emotionless species! . . . (T’Pol raises an eyebrow.) In pursuit of justice, The Due Process has been served! These are the orders of this Court,” and she pushes a button on her desk. The picture blinks back to Captain Marcus, dumbfounded!514
Captain Archer can see the disappointment on Marcus’ face, and sympathetically says,515
“I’m sorry, Captain Marcus, . . . I know this isn’t the verdict you, or any of us were expecting! . . . And for the loss of your friend, . . . (Thinks) Will you abide by the Judge/Ruler’s decision?”516
Marcus nods sadly, and resigningly says, 517
“Yes, yes, Captain Archer, . . . I may not have been ’expecting’ this verdict, but I am Duty-bound to uphold it! . . . And I know, now, that my ’empathy’ with you was clouded by my hatred for what you did! . . . I can see, now, that your intent was good! I hope, one day, that our two peoples can be friends?! Good-bye, Captain Archer,” and the picture jumps back to his ship, as it turns, and accelerates off! 518
Archer thinks reflectively, and in a soft, “sotto voce” says,519
“I hope so, too. Good-bye, Captain Marcus, . . . (normal voice) Helmsman, Take us home. . . .T’Pol? May I see you, in my quarters?” and he stands to leave the Bridge.520
T’Pol looks up from her scope, and says,521
“Yes, Captain, momentarily.”. . . 522
- - Enterprise slowly moves forward, turns 180 degrees, and accelerates away!. . .523
ACT FIVE524
- - Minutes Later, ’we’are behind Captain Archer, who has just finished his report to Starfleet! He is sitting at his desk, and the door can be ’seen’, past him across the room. The door “chimes”, and Archer calmly (tired) looks up, and says, 525
“Come!” T’Pol enters, approaches, and says,526
“You wished to speak with me, Captain?” 527
“Yes, . . . (thinks) I thought . . . since this involves your father’s ship, and your people, . . . you might want to ‘inform’ them, ‘personally’?” 528
T’Pol is confused, and says, 529
“Captain?” 530
Archer tries to explain saying,531
“About what happened to their science vessel?”532
“Captain, there is no need to associate . . . (thinks) ‘emotionality’ to me, or the report to the Vulcan High Command,” she coldly says!533
Archer shakes his head in amused amazement of her emotionless detachment, smiles, and teasingly says,534
“What about the fact that their ‘cold-blooded’ butts aren’t (snickers) allowed back there?”535
T’Pol is “oblivious”, and says, 536
“I ‘suppose’ so, . . . Yes, thank you, Captain, . . . (She thinks a moment) Doctor Phlox can confirm that Vulcan blood is not ‘cold’?!” 537
“No, (Snickers) I’ll take your word for it.”538
“And . . . Do not ‘think’ that I did not ‘notice’, during the play-back of our Bridge’s recordings at the trial, your ‘preoccupied interest’ with my buttock!”539
Archer blushes as he embarrassedly says, 540
“Oh, so you noticed ‘that’ , eh?” and he cringes at the thought she knows he was “lusting” after her body! 541
She says,542
“Yes, sir. . . (Thinks) The good doctor can also confirm that Vulcan’s . . .(Thinks) ’posteriors’ are almost exactly the same as Human’s, sir?!”543
Archer breathes a sigh of relief, realizing she is unaware of his “true interest” in her “behind”, chuckles, and says, 544
“Oh-ho-ho, no. That-t won’t be necessary-hee!. . . I’ll take your word for that, too! . . . How do you feel, about the way the trial turned out, T’Pol?”545
T’Pol says,546
“Captain?” with confused puzzlement.547
“You know?! . . . About how ’Human’s emotions’ saved us, and ’Vulcan’s logic’ condemned them?!” he sarcastically says. 548
T’Pol is (in a Vulcan way) annoyed, and sarcastically says,549
“May I remind you, ’Captain’? . . . Your ’Human emotions’, . . . your fear, anger, and hate . . . caused our dilemma?! . . . ’Logically’, we did commit multiple crimes in their space?! . . . We were guilty?! We should have been executed!”550
Archer is (in a Human way) slightly annoyed, and sarcastically says,551
“Well, we can always go back, and ’invade their space’, again?! Is that what you want?!”552
“That, too, would be illogical, Captain!”553
Archer grows more annoyed by her lack of humor and unrelenting logic, and says, 554
“You just won’t ’admit’ that Humans might be ’better off’ than Vulcans with our ’emotions’, will you, T’Pol?!”555
She says,556
“That would also be illogical, Captain! . . . (She thinks) It is very illogical that the . . . ’Beta-zoids’ could overlook their anger, hatred, and fear to absolve us?! Most curious! How could they know our ’true’ intent?! We ’could’ have been lying . . . to save ourselves?!” 557
Archer is reflectively thinking as he says, 558
“Yes-ssss. . . . I was wondering about ‘that’, also?! . . . Oh, well! I guess we’ll never know the answer to that! . . . (He remembers T’Pol “ducked” his point, and grows annoyed, again!) . . . That’s all, T’Pol. You’re dismissed.”559
She raises an eyebrow at his emotionality, bows slightly, and indignantly says,560
“Very well, ‘Captain’,” and she turns toward the door. As she walks to, and opens the door . . . 561
Archer shakes his head in exasperation, and under his breath says,562
“Vulcans!” and looks down, to begin typing his “formal” report to Starfleet Command.563
Instantly, ‘we’ are in the corridor outside, looking back in, through the opened door. ‘We’ can ‘see’ Archer at his desk, past T’Pol, who is walking through the doorway. She pauses, having “heard” Archer, shakes her head in disgust, and indignantly says,564
“Humans!” under her breath, without looking back! Archer doesn’t hear her, and she continues into the corridor, closing the door behind her, and out of ‘view’. All ‘we’ can ‘see’ is the closed door, which “closes the door” on this episode! . . . 565
THE END566
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